Affordable housing targets

Supporting the provision of affordable housing in the Vale

The council is committed to facilitating the provision of affordable housing for people who live and work in the Vale.

We work in partnership with Housing Associations, who are Registered Providers (RPs) to increase the provision of new homes, both for rent and HomeBuy, through new developments. For more details about this see our page on Subsidised and Shared Ownership schemes.

Schemes are currently under construction in Wantage, Faringdon and Cumnor Hill which will provide a range of property types and sizes for rent or HomeBuy (shared ownership).

Affordable housing in rural areas

We have been working in partnership with the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) and Sovereign Vale Housing Association, under the umbrella of the Oxfordshire Rural Housing Partnership This link will take you to an external website... , to deliver affordable housing where it is needed in villages across the Vale.

The Vale's Local Plan allows the development of small scale affordable housing schemes, known as Rural Exception Sites, which are strictly limited to people either already living in a particular village or its close environs, or who have a strong local connection but cannot afford to buy or rent a suitable home on the open market within the village. Often, people who have grown up in a village find that they have to move some distance away, and people working in the village or with a need to return due to family circumstances are unable to do so due to local house prices. Surveys are carried out in conjunction with the parishes to gauge the need for any affordable housing.

Schemes completed over the last three years have included developments in Shrivenham, Uffington and East Hendred with a scheme currently under construction in Blewbury. Further schemes are being considered in other villages across rural areas in the Vale.

Choice Based Lettings Scheme

All new homes are made available through our Choice Based Lettings Scheme and it is essential to be on the Housing Register to be eligible for either rented accommodation or the HomeBuy scheme. For more details see our page How to join the housing register.

Other help and assistance available to find a home which meets your current need

HomeBuy is a Government led initiative that enables eligible individuals and families into home ownership by offering assistance in a number of different ways. The HomeBuy Scheme is operated by Catalyst Housing Group This link will take you to an external website... , who are the appointed HomeBuy agent for the Vale and Oxfordshire.

Catalyst Housing Group have a responsibility to provide a 'one-stop-shop' service for home ownership and rental opportunities that exist in the Vale and Oxfordshire.

There are a number of different kinds of schemes offered under HomeBuy. Depending on your individual circumstances you may find that one or more of these is available to you. For further information, please contact Catalyst Housing Group This link will take you to an external website...  on 0845 601 7729.